N. Korea bombards artillery shells toward south of NLL
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APRIL 01, 2014 07:40.
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North Korea fired more than 500 rounds of artillery offshore of Northern Limit Line on Monday, of which some 100 landed in waters south of the disputed maritime border. South Korean military responded by firing and strengthened caution on possible additional firing. It is the first time in two years and seven months since August 2011 when North Korea provoked artillery firing south of the Northern Limit Line.

According to the South Korean Joint Chief of Staffs, North Korea`s firing was conducted eight times from 12:15 p.m. through 3:30 p.m. South Korean military authorities responded by firing about 300 rounds of K-9 self-propelled gun, while mobilizing F-15K combat planes and marine submarines to strengthen patrol. Military authorities ordered an urgent evacuation to residents at Baeknyeong and Yeonpyeong islands while banning private fishing ships` access to the area where firing was conducted.

At 8 a.m., North Korea notified South Korean Navy`s Second Fleet that it will conduct offshore firing drills at seven areas north of the Northern Limit Line. The area is known to have approached 0.5 miles toward South Korean water territory.

Later in the afternoon, the South Korean government held an emergency meeting of National Security Council at the Presidential Office and discussed countermeasures in response to the North`s provocations while the reason of North Korea`s provocations while looking into its intention.

North Korea fired more than 500 rounds of artillery offshore of Northern Limit Line on Monday, of which some 100 landed in waters south of the disputed maritime border. South Korean military responded by firing and strengthened caution on possible additional firing. It is the first time in two years and seven months since August 2011 when North Korea provoked artillery firing south of the Northern Limit Line.

According to the South Korean Joint Chief of Staffs, North Korea`s firing was conducted eight times from 12:15 p.m. through 3:30 p.m. South Korean military authorities responded by firing about 300 rounds of K-9 self-propelled gun, while mobilizing F-15K combat planes and marine submarines to strengthen patrol. Military authorities ordered an urgent evacuation to residents at Baeknyeong and Yeonpyeong islands while banning private fishing ships` access to the area where firing was conducted.

At 8 a.m., North Korea notified South Korean Navy`s Second Fleet that it will conduct offshore firing drills at seven areas north of the Northern Limit Line. The area is known to have approached 0.5 miles toward South Korean water territory.

Later in the afternoon, the South Korean government held an emergency meeting of National Security Council at the Presidential Office and discussed countermeasures in response to the North`s provocations while the reason of North Korea`s provocations while looking into its intention.